SCC at base of Tongue

Dave45042 said:

Consultations done

Well all consultation and biopsies are done, it is HPV that caused the tumor so it will respond better to treatment according to the DR's.  I am having 35 radiation treatments and 3 Chemo's, I elected to join a study group that has shown that people on Metformin respond better to treatments, First treatment is on 8-31-15, it will be a Radiation and Chemo on the same day.  Will keep everyone posted on my progress, thanks again for all the support and info.  Be Well Everyone

My husband was diagnosed with BOT SSC with metastasis to one lymph node in his neck in March. The first biopsy showed that it was caused by smoking. (He quit smoking 20 years ago.) He had to have his bottom teeth removed first, in April, because he had periodontal disease, then underwent robotic surgery and neck dissection in May.  The pathology report showed all margins were clear and that his cancer was caused by HPV, not by smoking.

In July he started radiation (no chemo). He was supposed to do 30 treatments (5 days a week for 6 weeks) but only got through 12 before he decided to stop. Was it the right decision? We don't know but we're hoping that by the damage that the radiation did to his throat in those two and a half weeks, if there was any cancer there, the 12 radiation treatments had to have killed it. He had lost about 10 lbs in the 10 days he was in the hospital after his surgery because he had a tracheostomy and nasogastric feeding tube. He gained some back but has lost 13 lbs in the last month since he started radiation. He only weighed 170 lbs to begin with so he can't afford to lose anymore. The hospital suggests he drink Boost but there's so much sugar in those that we're trying to find alternative ways to help him gain back. He needs to stay healthy to keep the cancer away. 

He will see his oncologist every two months for the next year to make sure he doesn't have a recurrence.

My husband is 55 years old. He was only 18 when his dad died from colon cancer and his mom from breast cancer two months later. His only brother also passed away from colon cancer 3 years ago. Imagine the shock of finding out he had BOT cancer when we've been making sure he's being screened every couple of years for colon cancer. With cancer, you just never know. 

It's not a nice journey to go through but my husband has a positive attitude and we all believe that it will help us all to get through this. With the love and support of your wife, family and friends, you will get through it too. Godspeed and good luck. 

Dave45042 said:

Clinical Trial

I opted out of the clinical trial, was going to make me drive 150miles round trip 6 or 7 times during the 7 weeks of treatment, but everything is scheduled, I have Radiation on 8-31-15 @ 7:15am and Chemo same day @ 8:30am.  Ready to get this started and Whoop Canacers A**.

Dave, i will be praying for you as you take this journey.  Put on your battle gear and really give cancer an a$$ kicking!!

God bless you,

dj

Barbaraek said:

Best of luck Dave

My husband just finished up radiation and chemo 5 weeks ago and is now doing 3 additional cycles of chemo for nasopharyngeal cancer. I wish you the best of luck and hope you have minimal pain. If you get burns from the radiation Aquaphor is good, but we also had a script for Silvadene which is a cream used for burn patients. It helped a lot for external weepy areas where they hit the lymph nodes hard with intensity modulated radiation.

HPV+ is a good thing with oral cancers...they seem to respond better, so hopefully it will work in your favor.

I lived in Cinti. for 7 years while my husband went to medical school there I did my doctoral work at UC. When you're all recovered, please have a Skyline Chili (3 way) and alarge scoop of Graeter's vanilla chocolate chip ice cream for me!

Barb

what a small world, barb!  i live in cinti and go to the barrett center for my follow up visits.  and, skyline 3-ways are my favorite food so i'll have one in your honor.....lol.  i'm always looking for a reason to go there!

God bless you,

dj

Dave45042 said:

First Treatments 8-31-15

Had my first treatment and fight with the radiation mask, once it dried it was pressing on my adams apple, that was rough.  But made it through and done the first Chemo, no side effects on the first night, but stomach is a little unsettled, had to sleep sitting up, and is still a little un-settled this morning.  Will keep everyone posted, I will answer any questions for anyone that I can, just as this group done for me, fantastic people in this group

One down. Just go one day at a time, and swallow water. Stay hydrated and just remember to swallow water. You can forget how to swallow in a matter of days, especially if your throat swells up. When it get rough just go day by day and some days it's hour by hour. 

Bill

It's a good feeling to finally get treatment started and I'm glad your reaction was mild. There is plenty of experience on this site and people will be here with advice and prayers whenever you need it.  

Hi Dave: Believe me, you will be fine. Suggest you find out the HPV status of your malignancy; HPV is a bit easier to cure, but none the less, you will be fine. I had 2 CM mass base of tongue, had 33 IMRT sessions. There was no pain from the malignancy but the radiation did hurt, after about the second week; they gave me oxycontin to ease the pain. If you do radiaition, make sure you take scrupulous care of your mouth and teeth during the same. Magic mouthwash will become your best friend. You will be fine, believe me, you will; I refused to beleive it back then, but here I am.